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Our latest album reviews, featuring the records we've most enjoyed (or not) over the past few weeks.

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Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)

8MM

Between The Devil and Two Black Hearts
ChelseaGirl (2012)

8MM has been around for a while now and their sound is maturing with every release from their first EP 2004's Opener to the new album Between The Devil and Two Black Hearts they just keep getting better. Lead by multi-instrumentalist / producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, No Doubt) the band was able to raise $40K via Kickstarter to fund this release and help cover some of the touring expenses. From the opening track “The Devil and Two Black Hearts” it’s easy to see why this band has so many faithful followers in the Laurel Canyon area of L.A. where they live, they simply kick ass from the get go. Starting with a slow shuffling lead that’s packed with massive guitar riffs and a heavy kick driven beat, the vocals bring in an almost southern rock flavor, put simply a well-crafted rocker. The second song “Kin” also comes in a strong rocker, heavy beats and a killer layer of slide guitar complimenting the strong vocals ably provided by Juliette Beavan. There is a noticeable shift in style for songs like “Around The Sun” and “You Bought The Fire” which are more synthesizer driven songs that display some … Read more

La Coka Nostra

Masters of the Dark Arts
Fat Beats (2012)

Masters of the Dark Arts marks the return of La Coka Nostra, a rap supergroup who were last heard from … Read more

Split Cranium

Self Titled
Hydra Head (2012)

So, here we have Split Cranium an interesting project band formed by some of the people behind the acclaimed Circle … Read more

Behexen

Nightside Emanations
Debemur Morti Productions (2012)

Oh Behexen....what the hell (pun intended) happened? It was all going so well. My Soul for His Glory was a … Read more

Ace High Cutthroats

Black Fire
Independent (2012)

With a name like Ace High Cutthroats, it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to determine what the band is … Read more

Stiletto Assassins

Self Titled
Independent (2011)

I don't really know where to begin with this EP. Its groovy rock sensibilities throw back to 70's glam rock, … Read more

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One from the archives

Whirr

Pipe Dreams
Tee Pee (2012)

Formerly known as Whirl this band has been within the emerging hype machine of the shoegaze / Dream pop underground. After a demo and EP that were both well regarded they managed to both change their name, get noticed more, and get signed by psych rock label Tee-Pee Records. Their past EP Distressor contained showed a band with the ability to use the ebb and wave of the crashing guitars used in shoegaze to carry the lilting melodies underneath. The band that is probably most related to them shares this ability in some ways and that is Deafheaven. With the other band's explosion in popularity Whirr managed to become more well known as well. Beyond all that after a bit of a wait the band has given us their first … Read more

More album reviews

Heinali

Air
Fluttery (2012)

I really wish I had the chance to review more classical music. While I don't consider myself an expert on the genre, I always find that listening to classical gives me musical experiences I truly could not get anywhere else, and when you've been listening to metal all day long, you can find it to be a welcome reprieve. That's … Read more

Joe Jackson

The Duke
Razor & Tie (2012)

Joe Jackson’s love of Jazz is no secret; with his new album being a tribute to the Jazz king Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington simply titled The Duke. Joe has been on the scene now for over thirty years putting out hits like his early pop work “Is She Really Going Out With Him” and “Sunday Papers” from the album Look … Read more

Horseback

Half Blood
Relapse (2012)

I remember distinctly the first time I was introduced to Horseback. It was by their 2012 album Half Blood, and I'm told that my experiences were pretty standard. For the uninitiated, your first few seconds of listening to Horseback will inevitably go something like this:"Hm. This is some pretty interesting post-rocky stuff. Oh, hold on, something's messed up with this … Read more

Vision Of Disorder

The Cursed Remain Cursed
Candlelight (2012)

It's not hard to figure that Vision Of Disorder were one of two Long Island Hardcore bands (along with Glassjaw) that have managed to influence a ridiculous number of current bands while remaining relatively dismissed outside of their scene during their original time as a band. The first 2 Vision of Disorder records had a sound all their own at … Read more

Inspire Influence

Planet Destroyer
Independent (2012)

Planet Destroyer, the debut EP from Toronto-based post-rock band Inspire Influence, is unhinged in execution, rising and falling like an endless wave of hopeless determination. Creating an atmosphere of desolation from the initial static of introductory track “Repairing,” the 5-song EP reads like a cohesive tale of intergalactic exploration through repetition, slow build-ups, and eventual climatic bursts of distorted frustration. … Read more

Devin Townsend Project

Epicloud
HevyDevy (2012)

You may never suspect it, but listening to the catalogue of Canadian musician Devin Townsend will cause you to run the gamut of extreme metal, new age, arena rock, ambient, and somehow even more. His last four albums, released under the Devin Townsend Project moniker, were supposed to be an exploration of the vastness of his artistic abilities, and they … Read more

Nathan Ellis

Self Titled
No Sleep (2012)

Mr. Ellis has already accomplished a great deal in his musical “career” (I say it this way because somehow I doubt Nathan Ellis is rolling deep in the dough from his various musical endeavors) that has carved a unique and impressive path amongst his myriad of projects which have included being one of the bassists in the ground breaking hardcore … Read more

Lunaire

With the Same Smiles as Those Days
Independent (2012)

Australia’s Lunaire first released a well-received demo in 2010 which was followed up by a lauded split with the American cross-coast project Airs. Now Lunaire offer their first EP, With the Same Smile as Those Days, which continues the quartet’s dreamy post-rock from earlier releases and steps forward as a band to watch out for. The four track EP combines … Read more

Plastic Cross

Grayscale Rainbows
Don Giovanni (2012)

Hub City Hardcore may not be on par with Greek mythology in terms of their incestuous relations, but with the debut of Plastic Cross, the New Brunswick, NJ brings yet another band of familiar faces playing a wholly new sound. The band is comprised of familiar Hub City Hardcore faces, with ex-members of The Scarlet Letter, Doc Hopper, Down in … Read more

The Keystone Kids

Things Get Shaky
Deep Elm (2012)

Half of The Keystone Kids is half of Slingshot Dakota, while the other half is Ryan O'Donnell of Yo Man Go, and that was enough to hook and reel me in. While both share Carly Comando's soothing vocals and keys, each one is on the opposite side of the indie spectrum. The Keystone Kids verges more on the electro-pop side … Read more

Senmuth

Hagwalah
Independent (2012)

Russian rocker Senmuth is known for his very overt fetish for all things Near Eastern. All you have to do is look at his website, and you'll see it's filled to the brim with pictures of him in Egypt, as well as the vast quantities of music and artwork that interest has inspired. But then, amongst all of that, there … Read more

Big Black Delta

IFUCKINGLOVEYOU
Master Of Bates (2012)

Jonathan Bates, aka Big Black Delta, made me entirely rethink what pop music could be last year with the release of his incredible debut, BBDLP1. He took the standard pop music formula and twisted it so far on its head that I'm pretty sure it exited from its own ass, and I mean that as a true compliment. It was … Read more

Rehashed

Code Black
Power It Up (2011)

Rehashed out of Saskatoon are working at carrying the crossover torch into the next decade. While there are a few bands doing this a smaller few truly make it work in the recorded format. Rehashed have everything it takes to be up on top it's only up to the Power It Up Records debut to prove to the world that … Read more

Two Gallants

The Bloom And The Blight
ATO (2012)

2012 sees Two Gallants coming back from a 5-year hiatus with their new release The Bloom and the Blight. How have the ensuing years treated the San Francisco blues-folk duo? Well, the press sheet calls it a record of catharsis, so one can only assume there were some personal events that transpired since 2007’s self-titled release. The major item that … Read more

Reviews by score
Browse our album reviews according to score: Highest (9.5/10 or more) or Lowest (2/10 or less)